Iron sources on iron status and gene expression of iron related transporters in iron-deficient piglets

The study was conducted to compare the effects of ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) and iron glycine chelate (Fe-Gly) on iron status and gene expression of iron related transporters in iron-deficient piglets. Eighteen piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire; 6.50 ± 0.52 kg) were selected to conduct the study. In period 1, all pigs were fed an iron-deficient diet (basal diet; 20.23 mg Fe/kg of diet) for 19 days until iron-deficient anemia was induced. In period 2, the eighteen piglets were randomly allotted to 3 dietary treatments for another 10 days. Dietary treatments were as follows: (1) control group (basal diet); (2) FeSO4 group (basal diet + 120 mg/kg of iron as FeSO4); (3) Fe-Gly group (basal diet + 120 mg/kg of iron as Fe-Gly). After 10-d feeding trial, piglets fed Fe-Gly or FeSO4 had higher (P < 0.05) iron content in heart, liver and lung, whereas serum total iron binding capacity (TIBC) was lower (P < 0.05) than iron-deficient piglets. Piglets fed Fe-Gly had higher (P < 0.05) peptide transporter 1 (PepT1) mRNA level, lower (P < 0.05) ferroportin1 mRNA level both in duodenum and jejunum when compared with pigs fed FeSO4. However, growth performance of piglets did not differ among all treatments (P > 0.05). In summary, current study showed that Fe-Gly was more effective in improving iron status of iron-deficient piglets than FeSO4. Moreover, gene expression of iron related transporters differ between FeSO4 and Fe-Gly group. Results also suggest that PepT1 may play a crucial role in absorption of Fe-Gly.